Letters To The Editor

The idea of mandated universal health care makes me sick. "Womb to tomb" care by our government does not generate confidence.

Do many people know that lawmakers who are supportive of instituting this economically disastrous policy have come up with a legislative sleight-of-hand called a "trigger"?

Basically, a trigger is a mechanism that allows the full effect of the mandate to kick in several years down the road. Triggers allow politicians to fix the health care game to their political advantage.

Congressmen who support a trigger aren't confident that universal health care will pass because of a needed massive tax increase, and they don't want to take responsibility for raising taxes.

We can't allow our leaders who can't balance the budget to play games with public policy that will affect every American's health. Employer mandates that drive people out of business are a bad idea now and five years from now.

Anthony Long

Newport News

AN IDEA FOR CHANGE

Reference the Sept. 25 article "Bridging their differences," which summed up nicely how teens came together Sept. 24 in an attempt to improve racial harmony:

I work for Newport News Juvenile Detention as an outreach counselor. I administer its electronic monitoring program, which puts teens with serious charges in house arrest, electronically. My one wish is to see jobs like mine abolished because of lack of crime. My spirit was with all who attended the summit because I can most assuredly relate. These kids are part of our future, and they do want to be accepted everywhere and live without fear. Sadly to say, racists, rapists, killers, robbers, etc., will still exist. My ambition is to alter the scale.

From Columbia, S.C., to Roselle, N.J., I have experienced segregation to integration, and after 23 years of Air Force duty, I have seen faces in all kinds of places. I feel in my heart and mind that people are different physically and mentally, but all faces show hunger, hope, faith, love and despair. I have an idea that would benefit all mankind.

I would like to solicit the help of kids like those who attended the summit. My idea will employ many and involve everyone from tots to teens to adults. Most importantly, my idea will be educational, informative and also profitable.

Those of you who want to jump on my bandwagon can contact me at 838-3591. All I can say is if the response is good, America can expect a change in its scenario.

David R. Clark III

Newport News

ACCOUNT MISLEADING

Reference the Sept. 26 letter from Dean Spangler in which he accused Mary Sinclair of irresponsibly voting to develop a well water system near Lightfoot that would "adversely affect the quality and quantity of water for residents dependent on well water":

This statement radically misrepresents Sinclair's actions. Recognizing the concerns of area residents about the effect these wells might have, she held public meetings to give citizens an opportunity to express their fears. She then insisted that, if the wells were approved, the adjacent ground water resources be monitored so that if area wells should be adversely affected, compensatory, mitigating steps would be taken.

Spangler then went on to urge his readers to vote for Herb Bateman, not Sinclair. If this is the kind of misinformation Bateman's supporters are driven to deal in, he might well ask to be saved from his friends.

L.H. Johnson

York County

HISTORY RECYCLED

"History repeats itself." "Events come full circle." Or in the vernacular of today, "what goes around comes around."

Personal and collective security was attained in the not-too-distant past by the erection of palisades, forts, walled cities, castles with moats. All this was for protection from the barbarians, the Vikings, the Huns, the native tribes, Celts, Indians, etc.

Witness our modern cities. Many residential areas, mostly of the well-to-do, are walled or are of limited access. Privately financed security forces guard the homes. Business edifices nearly all have their private security. The proliferation of firms providing electronic security for residences and business attest to the demand for security of person and property.

The above is in response to the attack of the modern version of the barbarian, the professional criminal.

Get out your ancient drawings of how to construct castles with moats, cities with walls, palisades, etc. You are going to need them. Our cities in the not-too-distant future will be dotted with enclaves.

W.O. Whitaker

Newport News

HOW TO CUT DEFICIT

Jesse Todd's Oct. 2 column, "Promises are early versions of later lies," has an assumption on taxes that is wrong.

I give him credit that he says spending must be cut to lower the deficit. However, he states the premise that raising taxes causes the deficit to go down and lowering taxes causes it to go up. That just is not so.